Press Release: Settlement Agreement

By Joel Hennessy
Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona
October 13, 2014

http://www.dow.org/News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/154/Press-Release-Settlement-Agreement

[Bishop Quinn video]

A Statement from Most Rev. John M. Quinn, Bishop of Winona

WINONA, MN – October 13, 2014 – Today the Diocese of Winona, Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Plaintiff, known as Doe 1, have agreed to fully settle a lawsuit pending in Ramsey County District Court. At the request of the Plaintiff, the terms of the Settlement Agreement are confidential. Doe 1 has asserted claims of negligence and public and private nuisance against the Diocese of Winona. Today’s settlement fully resolves all issues in this case that stems from the sexual abuse by former priest of the Diocese of Winona, Thomas Adamson.

We are ashamed of the horrific crimes that Thomas Adamson has perpetrated against children in our Diocese and in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. We are committed to ensuring the safety of the children entrusted to our care in our schools and in our parishes. As part of the settlement in this case the Diocese of Winona has committed to a series of child protection protocols which will further help to ensure the safety of all of God’s children. Most of the child protection protocols that the Diocese of Winona has committed to have been previously adopted and implemented. This agreement reaffirms the existing protocols and demonstrates our resolve and conviction to take every possible step to ensure the safety of all God’s children. The protocols are posted on the Diocese of Winona website along with our entire Safe Environment Program www.dow.org/safeenvironment.

The Diocese of Winona remains committed to providing support and healing to those who have been tragically abused by clergy. We encourage anyone that has been abused recently or in the past to report the abuse to civil authorities.